The Whitby High School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.2m in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cheshire West and Chester · Secondary · Foundation school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £8.3m | £8.1m | +£123k | £578k | 1,597 |
2019-20 | £9.1m | £9.0m | +£128k | £706k | 1,614 |
2020-21 | £9.7m | £9.3m | +£434k | £1.1m | 1,609 |
2021-22 | £10.3m | £10.2m | +£132k | £1.3m | 1,586 |
2022-23 | £10.8m | £11.1m | -£265k | £1.0m | 1,541 |
2023-24 | £11.4m | £11.3m | +£67k | £1.1m | 1,581 |
2024-25 | £12.4m | £12.2m | +£244k | £1.3m | 1,477 |
2025-26 | £12.5m | £12.6m | -£106k | £1.2m | 1,398 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary schools outside London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 53% of them. It spends £9,019 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,354.
This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median
Show the comparison as a table
| Spending per pupil | This school | Similar schools (median) | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
Teachers | £5,120 | £4,324 | £4,135–£4,574 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £909 | £790 | £562–£1,103 |
Supply staff | £148 | £61 | £36–£154 |
Admin and clerical | £635 | £331 | £278–£512 |
Premises | £720 | £407 | £326–£472 |
Energy | £95 | £138 | £96–£163 |
Learning resources & ICT | £409 | £419 | £335–£553 |
Bought-in services | £81 | £74 | £33–£147 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Three Rivers Academy Large reserves
- Nunthorpe School & Sixth Form Large reserves
- All Saints' Catholic High School Large reserves
- The Maplesden Noakes School Large reserves
- The Park Community School Healthy
- Driffield School and Sixth Form Large reserves
- Lift Ryde Large reserves
- The Littlehampton Academy Large reserves
- Westfield Academy Large reserves
- Queen Mary's Grammar School Large reserves
- Longdean School Large reserves
- Bruntcliffe Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £12.1m | £8,654 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £415k | £297 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £421k | £301 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £405k | £289 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 12% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £635 a pupil, against a typical £331 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £720 a pupil, against a typical £407 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,120 a pupil, against a typical £4,324 for similar schools. What's behind that?
Check these figures
Every figure here comes from the school's published return to the DfE. Check it on the DfE benchmarking page for this school, and see how the status is worked out.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for The Whitby High School · All Cheshire West and Chester school finances